Marine wife organizes donation drive for food pantry

Betty Webb, left, carries donated goods to the Havelock-Cherry Point Ministerial Association food pantry with the help of Laura Willoughby, of the organization Mothers of Preschoolers, last week in Havelock.

Drew C. Wilson/Havelock News

By Drew C. Wilson, Havelock News

Published: Tuesday, October 29, 2013 at 09:38 PM.

Betty Webb admits that it is rare for her to step up for community causes, but feeding the hungry is one need that she really got behind.

“It’s my first time doing anything like this,” said Webb, who is the wife of a local Marine. “I did this because I just want people to know we care. I just want to put hope back into humanity.”

What Webb did was respond when she heard about the recent need for food at the Havelock-Cherry Point Ministerial Association food pantry on East Main Street.

Webb joined with Laura Willoughby, of Mothers of Preschoolers, and coordinated a food and aid drive that resulted in three truckloads of goods being delivered to the food pantry. The donations had come from the kindness of many young Marine families who live aboard Cherry Point.

When it arrived, Havelock Mayor Jimmy Sanders was one of those waiting to bring the goods in.

“She’s a hustler. She’s a go-getter,” said Sanders, who knows Webb through their church.

Sanders pointed out that Webb already had her hands full with two small children she cares for alone while her husband is on deployment.

Betty Webb admits that it is rare for her to step up for community causes, but feeding the hungry is one need that she really got behind.

“It’s my first time doing anything like this,” said Webb, who is the wife of a local Marine. “I did this because I just want people to know we care. I just want to put hope back into humanity.”

What Webb did was respond when she heard about the recent need for food at the Havelock-Cherry Point Ministerial Association food pantry on East Main Street.

Webb joined with Laura Willoughby, of Mothers of Preschoolers, and coordinated a food and aid drive that resulted in three truckloads of goods being delivered to the food pantry. The donations had come from the kindness of many young Marine families who live aboard Cherry Point.

When it arrived, Havelock Mayor Jimmy Sanders was one of those waiting to bring the goods in.

“She’s a hustler. She’s a go-getter,” said Sanders, who knows Webb through their church.

Sanders pointed out that Webb already had her hands full with two small children she cares for alone while her husband is on deployment.

“Her plate’s full already, yet she found time to do this,” Sanders said. “I admire her.”

Webb said she would soon enter the Air Force when her husband returns from deployment but said she wanted to do something to help out.

“It’s hard, but it’s paying off,” Webb said last week when she delivered the food. “I want to do more stuff like this.”

Willoughby said she got help from Corinna Keagy and Hanna Travis in gathering donations. All three are military wives.

“I’m just glad we could help out,” Willoughby said. “We had three cars worth. We’re glad we could help.”